Vijay Mallya

Vijay Mallya (born 18 December 1955) is an Indian Business personality and an industralist having diversified business ranging from liquor to sports. He is associated with the UB Group, Bangalore Royal Challengers of Indian Premier League, the Force India Formula One, vI-League team East Bengal FC and other businesses. He is the Chairman and Managing Director of Kingfisher Airlines. His net worth is estimated to be about $1.0 billion.

Personal Biography

Vijay Mallya is the son of Vittal Mallya, an industrialist. Mallya is originally from the town of Bantwal (near Mangalore) in Karnataka. He was educated at La Martiniere Boys’ College, Kolkata and completed his degree at St. Xavier’s College, Calcutta under Calcutta University. He was awarded a Doctorate in Business Administration by the University of Southern California (USC).

Mallya is married twice. His first wife was Samira, a former Air India hostess, and the couple have one son, Sidhartha Mallya. He later married Rekha, his neighbor in Bangalore, and two daughters have been born of this relationship, Leana and Tanya.

Social work

Mallya established Mallya Hospital, Bangalore (which had a special charity ward) and Mallya Aditi International School, a prestigious private school in Bangalore with a special section providing subsidized education. He is responsible for bidding for the sword of Tipu Sultan of Mysore, and getting it back to India. Mallya sponsored many sporting events for the physically handicapped and the poor.

Hobbies

Mallya is famous for his flamboyant and flashy lifestyle. He loves sporting and has won may trophies in professional car racing circuits. During the 1970’s and 80’s he was often spotted at the Sholavaram track, Chennai. He is a keen yachtsman and an aviator. He also has won numerous trophies in horse racing including several prestigious domestic Derbies.

Mallya has a special vintage collection of historic rare automobiles in his museum which includes some rare cars including Jaguars, Ferraris, Alfa Romeos and Mercedes Benz.

In February 2016, Vijay Mallya said that he wants to move to Britain to be closer to his children.

Professional Biography

Vijay Mallya has business interests in liquor, fertilizers and airlines.

UB Group

Mallya became the Chairman of the United Beverages Group (UB Group) in 1983. The Group, since then, has grown into a multi-national business conglomerate of over 60 companies with an annual turnover which has increased by 439% to US$ 1.2 billion in 1998-99 despite the frequent devaluation of currencies in many developing countries, including India, where the group operates. The focal business area of the group includes Beverage Alcohol, Life Sciences, Engineering, Agriculture and Chemicals, Information Technology and Leisure.

In April 2010, it emerged as the world’s second largest liquor maker after Diageo. The company reported sales of over 100 million cases in the last 12 months and aims to become the number one by next fiscal.

Kingfisher Airlines

In 2005, Vijay Mallya established Kingfisher Airlines, a domestic and partially international airliner for which he is currently the Chairman and CEO.

In April 2010, Mallya strongly supported IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi, saying that he is the creator and the brains behind a highly successful and lucrative IPL. Mallya said there is no need to sack Modi but also said Modi will have answers to all questions raised by BCCI.

In mid-April 2010, he said he “knows nothing” about his step daughter Laila Mahmood, who works for Modi, being the “mystery woman” who exited Modi’s office in Mumbai just before the Income Tax officials visited it for a probe.

Force India Formula One ownership

Mallya is the owner of Force India Formula One. He was at its Formula One car unveiling ceremony for 2008 season. On September 14, 2009, he said no Indian is good enough to drive on Formula One at the moment. By April 2010, Mallya said he is expecting regular top-10 finishes for Force India.

Politics

Mallya made a brief political stint when in 2000 he entered politics and superceded Subramaniam Swamy as the president of Janata Party which got split from the Janata Dal party. His party contested for around 20 seats during the Karnataka State Legislative election. He campaigned vigorously through the media, but his party failed to make any impact and did not win a single seat. This failure in the election has lead the media to ignore his political stint.

Non-Bailable Warrant against Vijay Mallya

On 12 October 2012, non-bailable warrant (NBW) has been issued against Mallya by a Hyderabad court. The NBW was issued in a case filed by airport operators GMR. Five more NBWs have been also issued against the Kingfisher Airlines Management. According to the NBW issued against Mallya, Kingfisher Airlines owes more than Rs. 40 crore to Delhi airport. A cheque of Rs. 10 crore issued by Kingfisher to GMR towards this payment has been bounced.

Vijay Mallya is out of the country when the NBW has been issued. He could face arrest when he returns.

On March 12, 2016, a Hyderabad court has issued a non-bailable warrant against Vijay Mallya after he failed to appear before the court in a cheque bounce case.

In February 2016, the consortium of public-sector banks had moved the debt recovery tribunal (DRT) to attach Vijay Mallya's passport. The consortium also appealed that the funds Mallya will receive from Diageo be kept in an escrow account till the dues are cleared.

Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India and Bank of India have declared KingFisher Airlines and its promoter Mr. Mallya as a 'wilful defaulter.'

Consortium of banks moves Supreme Court
On 8 March 2016, a consortium of 17 public-sector banks, led by State Bank of India moved the Supreme Court of India seeking direction that Vijay Mallya should not be allowed to leave India. The consortium is represented by attorney general Mukul Rohatgi.

The AG Mukul Rohatgi told the court that Vijay Mallya has left India on March 2, 2016. Meanwhile, notices were issued to Mallya personally, United Breweries and the Indian High Commission in London. Notices will also be served to Mallya through his official Rajya Sabha email. The case will come up for hearing again on March 30. A plea order by attorney general Mukul Rohatgi to direct Vijay Mallya to appear personally before the court to force him to come back to India was brushed aside by the Apex court for now. The court asked Vijay Mallya to reply to the plea.

A senior finance ministry official said that government will use all its resources to bring Vijay Mallya home if he is found guilty by the courts. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has been apprised of the situation.

CBI lookout notice
Media reports said that the Central Bureau of Investigation has issued a lookout notice in October 2015 and wanted immigration authorities to detain Vijay Mallya if he tried to leave the country. However, a month later, the notice was modified to say that detention was not necessary. This led to suspicions that Vijay Mallya is favored by government authorities.

'Not an absconder'
Refuting media reports that he fled from India and that he is an absconder, Vijay Mallya termed them as rubbish. He tweeted that he is an international businessman and travels to and from India frequently. He said that he respects Indian judiciary and will comply with the law of the land. Mallya also lashed out at the media for propagating lies to gain TRPs.

Kingfisher pilots call off strike
Pilots of the loss-making carrier Kingfisher Airlines have called off their one-day old strike after being assured that their pending salaries for January shall be paid by May 15.

Mallya avoids commenting on SRK’s ban from Wankhede
Billionaire business tycoon and owner of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Vijay Mallya, on Friday refused to comment on the Maharashtra Cricket Association’s decision to ban Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan from entering the Wankhede Stadium for five years, saying the matter is between the MCA and the Bollywood actor.

Kingfisher staff urge Royal Challengers Bangalore to boycott IPL
Staff members of Kingfisher Airlines have reportedly appealed to players turning out for the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise-Royal Challengers Bangalore - not to fly on Kingfisher flights till their salary dues and other demands are cleared by the airline’s management.

Indian wines flying off British shelves
The first Indian-wines, made from grapes grown in the Maharashtra, which are being sold by a UK supermarket are are proving to be extremely popular among British consumers.

Global Investors Meet organized in Karnataka
In a bid to woo potential investors, entrepreneurs and global business firms to the region, the Karnataka Government initiated a two-day Global Investors Meet (GIM) here on Thursday. ANI